servir French · revision 17433

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 880, Séquence de sainte Eulalie|origins=la servus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sɛʁ.viʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''servir'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|servir]], [[inh|la|serviō|t=to be a slave; to be subject to; to be useful]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|11, 536a)^(Wiktionary) The Latin verb is derived from [[m|la|servus|t=slave]] (see [[serf]]), a word of obscure origin, perhaps related to an Indo-European root “*ser-” “to protect, watch over”.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) “Servus” had earlier given [[m|la|servō|t=to keep, protect]], felt as separate from the noun.^(DHLF 1992) With a thing as subject, classical Latin already used “servīre” for “to be useful to”.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ Cognate with [[it|servire]], [[oc|servir]], [[es|servir]], [[pt|servir]] and [[ro|servi]].^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found in the ''Séquence de sainte Eulalie'' (about 880), ''diaule seruir'' “to serve the devil”, in the Latin sense “to be devoted to (someone)”, ''Deu servir'' is in the ''Vie de saint Léger'' (late 10th century).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ About 1050 it meant “to celebrate the liturgy” (later ''servir la messe'', 1680) and “to work as a servant”; at table it meant to bring in the meal (about 1165) and to present a dish (about 1170, Chrétien de Troyes).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) ''Servir une dame'' (about 1155, Wace) belongs to courtly love, ''servir l'État'' is in Fénelon.^(GLLF 1989) Polite ''pour vous servir'' is recorded in 1648.^(TLFi)

+

+ The use with a thing as subject, ''servir à'' “to be used for” and ''servir de'' “to act as”, developed alongside the noun [[service]], as did military service.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992) ''Se servir'' at table is recorded in 1832, and ''se servir de'' “to make use of” is current.^(TLFi)^(Wiktionary) Corneille's and Racine's ''servir'' “to be a slave” is a Latinism.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) In sport it means to serve the ball, and to set up a team-mate.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 880 – ''Diaule seruir'' in the ''Séquence de sainte Eulalie''.^(TLFi)

+ * Late 10th century – ''Deu servir'' in the ''Vie de saint Léger''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1050 – “To serve as a servant” and “to celebrate the office”, in the ''Vie de saint Alexis''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1165 – Serving at table, in Benoît de Sainte-Maure.^(TLFi)

+ * 1393 – ''Serviette''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1648 – ''Pour vous servir'', in Voiture.^(TLFi)

+ * 1680 – ''Servir la messe''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1832 – ''Se servir'' “to help oneself”.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|serve]], be devoted to: ''servir Dieu'', ''servir son pays''; to serve in the army.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # To work for someone as a servant; to attend to customers.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To bring food or drink to someone; to serve a dish: ''Madame est servie''.^(Wiktionary)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''Servir à'': to be used for, be of use, ''servir de'': to act as: ''ça ne sert à rien''.^(Wiktionary)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ # ''(sport)'' To serve; to set up a team-mate.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''Se servir'': to help oneself, ''se servir de'': to make use of.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[servant]]

+ * [[serveur]]

+ * [[serviable]]

+ * [[serviette]]

+ * [[desservir]]

+ * [[service]]

+ * [[serviteur]]

+ * [[dessert]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[serf]]

+ * [[sergent]]

+ * [[servage]]

+ * [[servile]]

+ * [[servitude]]

+ * [[conserver]]

+ * [[la|serviō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}